Oh and I forgot to mention this will be an indoor kitty. My last cat (that I had for about 8 years) was an indoor but somehow she got outside and was killed by a dog. I will be extra careful to make sure the new kitty doesn’t get outside. Too many dogs roaming around in the neighborhood and I bet none of them like cats.
consider pet insurance.
Outdoor cats sometimes require a little more maintenance to keep them running properly. If you decide to let your cat out, consider a wellness plan like the one PetSmart offers to save costs. It will keep your cat vaccinated, provides free unlimited checkups, and gives discounts on treatment. Fight wounds get expensive when they get infected, and they will get infected if left untreated. Even with a wellness plan, wound cleansing and antibiotics can still get pricey, so a little first aid can save money, too. I’ve found that clipping fur around wounds and applying peroxide staves off most infections, and is cheaper and less of a hassle than a vet visit followed by a week of antibiotics.
Cats aren’t that expensive to “maintain”, unless they get sick. IIRC you can get pet medical insurance.
The big problem with cats is what to do with them if you go away? Move somewhere they’re not allowed? Even stay out overnight unplanned, and don’t get back to let it in/let it out?
The best advice I can recommend is having at least one reliable person - family member or preferably neighbour - who can act as a stand-in and genuinely doesn’t mind helping out.
The cat may well live for twenty years. That’s TWO DECADES of having to think about what you’re going to do with kitty every single time summer holidays come round, college comes round, work trips come round, etc.
If she does get a cat, KEEP IT INDOORS. I am very anal retentive on this subject. Kitty is much healthier.
Since your girlfriend has had a cat before, I’m sure she knows what comes with having one. Is her Dalmation fixed? They’re pretty rowdy dogs, from what I gather. Of course, knowing most cats, the new kitten will probably totally dominate the dog. (Trust me, it happens!)
Also, Patrick feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions. My mom is practically an expert on owning cats.
(Hey-I thought you were afraid of cats! :p)
Oh, fizzes, sorry, didn’t see your two posts. I’d also like to say you can e-mail me too for any questions-I have 5 cats! :eek:
I would also reccomend-NO CLUMPING LITTER-vets say that cats, especially little kittens-can swallow it and it makes them sick.
For food, the best out there is Purina. Commercially, that is. If you want the really good stuff, ask your vet about Hills’ Science Diet.
Good luck. I just LOVE cats!
I’ll be happy to give my two cents worth if you ever need it, too. I have had cats my entire life, have four currently, and have also done rescue/foster in the past. I can also refer you to some good cat/pet discussion boards where you can pick up a lot of good advice, and also suggest some web sites.
I agree withistara if you are going to be away and extended period, but the great thing about cats as opposed to dogs is they take care of themselves quite well. Even when I’m gone as long as a week or two (which,granted, is rarely) I leave them at home, with a friend to come check on them every other day or so, just to make sure they haven’t knocked over their water bowls and to scoop the boxes.
lorinada: A 23-pounder?? What kind of cat is that? Panthera leo??
Since his mama was a stray and I don’t know which neighborhood kitty was the daddy, I can only guess, but I think he’s got the manx gene. Manx males frequently surpass the 20 pound mark, plus he has a shorter-than-average tail with a gnarly knob-like tip, his back legs are longer than the front, he has a high-pitched meow, he has a thick “double coat” and his eyes are more roundish than almond-shaped, all typical manx characterisitics.
23 pounds is also not an unreasonable weight for a Maine coon male, if he’s longhaired.
lorinada, you know those silly scratchers that are supposed to hang from doorknobs? The ones that the cats never use because they move around too much? Try nailing one to your wall at around the ideal scratching height for your big boy. (Cut the cord off that it’s supposed to hang by so he doesn’t get tangled).
fizzes, why can’t you keep both? Like I said earlier, two kittens are less work than one, not more. If you found them together, they’re probably littermates who are used to being together.
That’s a great idea, ENugent! I’ll try that! Thanks!
Oh, also, ENugent, I forgot to add, Big Mac is short-haired.
I’m also of the “keep both” camp…one of my biggest pet regrets was when I adopted my first cat Boo and left his sister at the shelter. My apartment complex had just passed the rule allowing pets, and allowed only one cat, but I doubt they would have found out. We didn’t stay there long anyways and I ended up getting another kitten to keep Boo company. I *so *wish I would have adopted his sister too. I currently have three cats and two isn’t any harder than one - they will be easier to keep busy (and out of trouble) if there is a playmate. Sometimes vets will give a multi-pet discount on vaccs and stuff.
With all due respect Guin, it depends on what the cat is for.
I live in a very rural area, and I classify cats as being either pets or tools. Maintenance on the former tends to be much more expensive than the latter.
So what do I mean by tools? We have two cats. They’re strictly “outdoor” cats. (They know better than to step foot in our house.) They have one job: control the rodent population. And they do an excellent job of it. Total maintenance cost is 2 cans of cat food per day per cat. If one can of cat food costs $0.25, then the total maintenance cost for both cats is $1.00 / day. No litter box, no cat carrier, no vet bills, no collars, no bed, no powder, no toys. Just 4 cans of cat food / day. It’s a bargain…
True enough, but you have to consider a couple of extra potential costs: [ul]
[li]Vet bills for treating feline leukemia[/li][li]Vet bills for treating Feline Immune Deficiency [/li][li]Vet bills for treating abscesses from injuries[/li][/ul]
Not to mention the suffering from any of the above. After having two cats die of leukemia and one from FIV, every cat I have from now on will be indoors only.
MLS: Sorry, but I refuse to spend a dime on a vet for any reason. If they get sick they’ll probably become coyote food. And then we’ll have to get another cat. Remember, the folks around these parts use cats as tools, not pets…
Well, then, yes, your situation and mine is completely different. Sounds like you don’t spay or neuter them, either, so you will always have plenty more and can let survival of the fittest do its work. This approach probably wouldn’t work for the OP, of course.
ENugent I’d love to keep both kitties but my mum is firmly against the idea (then again she also said I had to find a home for one of them today or else, and I still have both kitties). She seems to think two kitties will cause more trouble than one kitty and I can’t seem to convince her otherwise. I’ll keep working on her about that though.
The kitties get along great so I believe they’re of the same litter. Right now they’re curled up under the TV stand together playing. So far they’ve been very happy in their new home and the dog hasn’t tried to pick on them at all!
Oh convince her to let you keep BOTH! They’ll be heartbroken!
What about your dad? In our house, my dad’s the soft touch, especially when it comes to the animals. He spoils them rotten.
Trust me, having multiple cats is a bargain-tell her it’s entertainment, and it is. Not a day goes by without my laughing at something one of my girls did.
Crafter Man, in this case, we’re not talking about animals who work, but pets, mmmkay? Personally, I find your attitude to be cold, but hey, not everyone is an animal lover. However, if you refuse to get your animals fixed, then yeah, you ARE a problem.
Crafter_Man, I’m not going to use the “T” word because clearly you’ve been around a long time, but even people who use animals as “tools” have the decency to keep them as disease- and injury-free as possible. And when that is not possible, they arrange for euthanasia. And like Guin said it is blatantly obvious this discussion is not about tools. Speaking of tools…never mind, this isn’t the Pit. 